Trump, NATO Chief to Discuss Ukraine Weapons Sales Plan/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump will meet NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte amid plans for selling weapons to allies for Ukraine. Lawmakers debate sanctions on Russia and redirecting frozen assets to aid Kyiv. Trump shifts tone, calling Putin deceptive while boosting military aid.
Ukraine Weapons Sales Quick Looks
- President Trump to host NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Washington
- U.S. plans arms sales to NATO allies for Ukraine
- Trump previously criticized Ukraine aid but shifts stance
- Congress considers sanctions on Russia’s oil industry
- Frozen Russian assets eyed to fund Ukraine defense
- European leaders press U.S. for more air defense support
- Trump wants control over sanctions waivers in legislation
- Lawmakers predict increased military shipments to Ukraine soon
Deep Look
Trump To Meet NATO Secretary-General As Ukraine Weapons Sales Gain Momentum
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — President Donald Trump is set to hold high-stakes discussions this week with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Washington, as the United States moves forward with plans to supply advanced weaponry to NATO allies for transfer to Ukraine—a major shift in Trump’s approach to the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Rutte, who recently met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, is scheduled for meetings in the U.S. capital on Monday and Tuesday. His agenda includes talks with President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and congressional leaders.
Trump previewed the upcoming talks while arriving in Washington on Sunday night, signaling the administration’s evolving strategy on Ukraine. “I’m gonna have a meeting with the secretary-general who’s coming in tomorrow,” Trump told reporters. “But we basically are going to send them various pieces of very sophisticated weapons and they’re gonna pay us 100% for them.”
This marks a significant pivot for Trump, who, during his presidential campaign, often portrayed U.S. aid to Ukraine as wasteful spending and pledged to quickly broker an end to the war. Now, prominent Republican allies say Trump is increasingly committed to bolstering Ukraine’s ability to repel Russian aggression.
Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, one of Trump’s closest allies, said Sunday that the conflict is reaching a turning point as the administration prepares to ramp up military support. Speaking on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Graham stated:
“In the coming days, you’ll see weapons flowing at a record level to help Ukraine defend themselves.” He added, “One of the biggest miscalculations Putin has made is to play Trump. And you just watch, in the coming days and weeks, there’s going to be a massive effort to get Putin to the table.”
Trump’s meeting with Rutte comes against the backdrop of growing Russian air attacks against Ukrainian infrastructure.
As well as Trump’s own promise to issue a “major statement” about Russia on Monday. While he declined to elaborate on the announcement, Trump teased further developments, saying, “We’re going to see what we will see tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, bipartisan momentum is growing in Congress—and among European allies—for measures that go beyond direct weapons transfers. Lawmakers and officials are increasingly focused on leveraging approximately $300 billion in Russian assets frozen by Group of Seven nations early in the war. Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, appearing alongside Graham on CBS, said, “It’s time to do it,” referring to deploying those frozen funds to aid Ukraine’s defense.
Secretary of State Rubio highlighted another practical step forward, noting that some of the U.S.-manufactured weapons Ukraine urgently seeks are currently deployed with NATO allies in Europe.
“Those weapons could be transferred more quickly to Ukraine if European countries buy replacements from the U.S.,” Rubio said Friday.
France’s Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu echoed European urgency in an interview published Sunday in La Tribune Dimanche. Lecornu revealed that Europe’s air defense capabilities are under strain, leaving France unable to supply new ground-air missiles to Ukraine until next year. European leaders are urging the Trump administration to bridge this gap.
At the same time, Trump faces mounting pressure from Republicans, Democrats, and European partners to endorse legislation aimed at crippling Russia’s oil industry—a major revenue source fueling Moscow’s war machine. The proposed bipartisan Senate bill calls for imposing a 500% tariff on goods imported from nations continuing to buy Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other exports. Such measures would heavily impact economies like China, India, and Brazil, which remain significant buyers of Russian energy.
“The big offender here is China, India and Brazil,” Graham said. “My goal is to end this war. And the only way you are going to end this war is to get people who prop up Putin — make them choose between the American economy and helping Putin.”
Despite previous threats, Trump had held off imposing new sanctions on Russia’s oil sector. However, in recent days, he’s voiced growing frustration with President Vladimir Putin, criticizing his duplicity.
“He talks so beautifully and then he’ll bomb people at night,” Trump said of Putin, marking a notably sharper tone than in earlier comments.
Congress has been poised to advance the sanctions legislation, which enjoys broad bipartisan support. However, Republican leadership has been waiting for Trump’s signal to proceed. A key sticking point is the balance of power over sanction waivers. Trump has insisted on retaining presidential authority to lift or reimpose penalties without being bound by Congress. Under the proposed bill, the president “may terminate” penalties under certain conditions but must quickly reinstate them if violations resume. Graham has explained that the president could issue waivers for 180 days and renew them as needed.
Blumenthal, while acknowledging minor differences on waiver provisions, emphasized the importance of bipartisan unity. “The waiver language we will have in this bill is very much like the provisions that have existed in past similar measures,” he said. “What I think is most important right now is our unity.”
As Rutte arrives in Washington, the discussions could redefine NATO’s coordinated strategy toward Russia, potentially accelerating weapons deliveries and economic measures designed to pressure Moscow into peace negotiations. The world—and Kyiv—will be watching closely to see whether Trump’s evolving stance translates into swift, decisive action.
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